Curtain rod



June 29, 1943.

A. BIRNIE CURTAIN ROD Filed Oct. 13, 1941 INVE'NTOR finnze .Bzrnze Patented June 29, 1943 5 PATENT OFFICE.

UNlTED STATE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to curtain rods or hangers, and particularly to the telescopic or extensible curtain rod now commonly used for windowcurtains in residences, and on which the curtains are threaded.

The threading operation is somewhat unsatisfactory, since the curtain is apt to catch on the sharp metal at one end of the overlapping rod section, and when fully in place is apt to slip very easily from position, so that the curtain must be constantly readjusted along the rod by the housewife.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an attachment, adapted to be mounted on a curtain rod or hanger of the above type, which eliminates the necessity of threading the curtain and the provision of a rod-receiving hem, which efiectively retains the curtain both against horizontal as well as vertical displacement, and also prevents the curtain from being possibly torn when being applied or removed.

Another object is to arrange the attachment so that it can be readily removed when desired, and which is extensible and contractible along with the rod itself without any manual operation being needed to effect such extension or contraction.

A further object is to provide a device for the purpose s constructedthat the curtain may be removed therefrom for laundering or the like without taking down the curtain rod itself, as is now necessary.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan outline of a conventional extensible curtain rod, showing my improved attachment applied thereto, the top member of the attachment being partly broken away.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. I

Figure 3 is a similar View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the curtain-mounting members at their adjacent ends.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective View of one of the curtain mounting members, at its bracket connection end.

Figure 6 is a similar view of the top member of the attachment.

Referring now moreparticularly to the charac-.

adapted to be mounted in connection with the above type of curtain rod, comprises two pairs-of strips 6, preferably of resilient metal and set on edge so that they will not sag down. The strips of each pair are substantially symmetrical to each rodsection l and each strip including a main straight portion and right angle end portion 1. The strips of each pair are disposed. in parallel and somewhat closely spaced relation to each other and to the inner edge of the rod I, and at their adjacent ends they overlap the strips of the other pair an amount equal to the overlap of the sections I. The overlapping portions of corresponding strips are secured together for relative sliding movement by suitable means such as longitudinally spacedpins 8 on one strip riding in a longitudinal slot 9 in the other strip. The upper edge of the outer strips, and the lower edge of the inner strips, are provided with fine teeth ID to prevent slipping of the curtain.

The strip. portions 1 at their outer end are formed withhorizontal ears II, the ears of adjacent strips being disposed so as to closely overlap each other, as shown in Fig. 5. The ears are tied together and the strips are removably mounted as a unit in connection with the main rod, by means of a connecter l2 preferably made of stiff wire. This wire is bent or formed so as to project through the ears and is provided with horizontal eyes I3 spaced apart so as to project easily between the flanges 3, the pin 4 removably projecting through the eyes, as shown in Fig. 2. The ears and connector are disposed relative to the strips 6 so that the latter occupy a position behind the rod sections l substantially central of the height thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. When the main curtain rod is supported by the bracket pins therefore the strips 6 are also supported in fixed relation thereto in the position above recited, and the operative length of said strips will automatically change with any extension or contraction of the rod as a whole.

One way to apply the curtain to the attachment is to pass the upper end of a curtain, indicated at I4, upwardly on the outside of the outermost strips 6, then down between the strips and then up behind the inner strips, as shown in Fig. 3, leaving the narrow and relatively stiff top hem Ma of the curtain projecting above the rod I. In order to retain the curtain hem in such upstanding position, a pair of horizontally disposed overlapping and extensible strip sections I5, flanged along one edge as at I6 to prevent sagging, extend from end to end of the rod section I. These strip sections are located on a level with the top of the sections I and laterally inward therefrom only suificient to receive the hem I 4a therebetween, as shown in Fig. 3.

At their opposite end the strip sections I5 are formed with horizontalorificed ears IT project'- ing in opposite directions from each other, and adapted to be inserted between the topmost flange 3 of the rod sections I andthe adjacent eyes I3, so as to be also held in place by the pin 4. If the curtain is provided with'a top fanciful frill, this may hang down over the rod I to cover the same. Also, curtain of certain kinds may be hung over the rod I itself, while being also threaded or passed about the securing strips. If the front of the rod sections I is exposed, said sections are then preferably covered with a ma terial matching that of the curtain, or are enameled in a color to harmonize with the curtain and the room furnishings.

Should the lower hem of the curtain develop a, sag at any point, such as at the corners, it is a simple matter to eliminate the sag by drawing up the sagging portion to the necessary extent and readjusting the strip engaged part of said portion about said strips.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device,

1 still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a curtain rod, the rod being mountable at its ends in supported relation to a vertical surface, a curtain hanging unit including a pair of horizontally spaced facing strips extending substantially the full length of the rod behind the same and located below the upper edge thereof, and another strip also extending substantially the full length of the rod behind the same and disposed above the first named strips, and means on the strips at their opposite ends for supporting engagement with the rod mounting means, said pair of strips being adapted to have a curtain provided with a top hem passed thereabout adjacent its upper end in predetermined order; and said other strip being adapted to engage and locate said top hem of the curtain.

2. In combination, a curtain rod, the rod being mountable at its ends in supported relation to a vertical surface, the rod at its ends being provided with top and bottom orificed flanges projecting inwardly; a curtain hanging unit behind and extending substantially the full length of the rod, and means on said unit for supporting engagement with said rod mounting means; said means on the unit including a member mounted on each end of the unit and having a pair of horizontal, vertically spaced eyes projecting between the rod flanges at the adjacent end of the rod and adapted to receive a mounting pin therethrough.

3. A curtain hanging unit comprising a pair of horizontal, substantially parallel strips mountable in fixed and supported relation to a vertical surface, another strip extending substantially the full length of said pair and disposed in parallel relation thereabove, and means to mount said other strip in fixed and supported relation to said vertical surface; said pair of strips being disposed in closely spaced relation and adapted to have a curtain with a top hem adjacent its upper end passed thereabout in predetermined order whereby to grip and hold said curtain against downward displacement, and said other strip being positioned to engage and locate the top hem of said curtain in predetermined relation to the latter.

4. A curtain hanging unit as in claim 3 in which the foremost portion of said other strip is disposed in substantially the vertical plane between the strips of said pair whereby to locate the hem in a predetermined vertical plane relative to the curtain.

5. A curtain hanging unit as in claim 3 in which said other strip faces vertically; the forward edge of said other strip being formed with a depending inwardly curved, longitudinally extending flange, said flange being disposed in substantially the vertical plane between the strips of said pair.

ANNIE BIRNIE. 

